INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by the occurrence of unprovoked seizures.

AIM(S): In our study, we aim to investigate the behavioural changes in the rat model of epilepsy following four-vessel occlusion ischemia.

METHOD(S): We performed a battery of behavioural tests on adult Sprague-Dawley rats, before and after the ischemia.

RESULTS: The Open Field test and Hyperexcitability test did not reveal any significant changes between the Sham and Ischemic groups. In the New Object Recognition test Ischemic animals visited the novel object and the surrounding area less frequently. They also moved shorter distances and showed less interest in the new object, in contrast to control animals, which climbed on it. The Elevated Plus Maze test showed that ischemic animals spend more time in the closed arms and travel less than Sham animals. In the Social Interactions Test, both groups of animals presented the correct behaviour by spending a longer time in a compartment with a new, unknown rat than in the compartment with the familiar rat. Control animals presented more exploratory behaviour when moving around the cage, and ischemic animals spent more time in the empty area.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of behavioural tests indicate increased anxiety in ischemic animals.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: NCN Opus-22